By: Richard L. Smith
Officials in Ocean County reported that on June 23, Jahvontae Debose, 26, of Lakewood, was sentenced by the Honorable Lisa A. Puglisi, J.S.C., to seven years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Manslaughter, in connection with the shooting death of Mr. Dajour Randolph in Lakewood Township on February 21, 2021.
According to Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, on February 21, 2021, at approximately 7:40 p.m., Lakewood Township Police were summoned to the area of Tudor Court in response to a 911 call regarding a male who had collapsed in the middle of the road.
Prosecutor Billhimer said responding officers found Dajour Randolph, 20, of Little Egg Harbor, with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest.
EMS transported Mr. Randolph to Monmouth Medical Center, Southern Campus, in Lakewood, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
On February 22, 2021, the Ocean County Medical Examiner performed a post-mortem examination of Mr. Randolph’s body. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of Mr. Randolph’s death to be multiple gunshot wounds, and ruled the manner of death to be homicide.
Prosecutor Billhimer said Debose was initially charged on February 23, 2021 with Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm in the Course of Committing a Drug Offense, and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon.
Debose was taken into custody without incident by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force in Pleasantville, New Jersey, following a motor vehicle stop on February 23, 2021. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his apprehension.
This sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning that Debose will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.
Judge Puglisi also sentenced Debose to seven years NJSP with a five year period of parole ineligibility as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. Additionally, Judge Puglisi sentenced Debose to seven years NJSP with a 42-month period of parole ineligibility as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Possessing a Firearm in the Course of Committing a Drug Offense.
These sentences will run concurrently.
Finally, Judge Puglisi sentenced Debose to seven years NJSP as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute.
This sentence will run consecutively. Debose pled guilty to all charges before Judge Puglisi on March 28, 2023.